Sevcik op. 8 #57 Scale Studies

July 30, 2018, 10:24 AM ·
I like all of Sevcik quite a bit and op. 8 in particular for shifting exercises. But the preparatory scale studies (#57) are a problem for me. The studies for C major are written out and I find them very helpful, but the other keys are not written out and I just have a hard time working them out for all the studies. Is there a trick a technique other than brute force working each one out? Is a written out version available somewhere?

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Edited: July 30, 2018, 1:38 PM ·
Instead, Try Sevcik, Op. 1, book 3, # 1--8. In general, everyone needs multiple fingerings for their scales. In real music, the optimum fingering depends on the musical context, on bowing, rhythm,and personal anatomy of the hands. Examples; I rarely use that 4-4-4 round-trip at the top of the scale that you see in so many scale books. I try to avoid using that Flesch-recomended scale pattern that starts on the second finger, because it puts a half-step on a string change. Experiment with your fingerings. some suggestions; 1-2-1-2-1-2 etc. until you get near the top, then finish it with whatever fingers are left over. Or shift on the half-steps, either 1-2 or 1-2-3. For very fast scales try 1-2-3-4-1-2-3-4. Try playing half-steps with the same finger when playing high on the string.

Edited: July 30, 2018, 3:42 PM ·
Michael,I gave a lot of thought to fingerings for all scales major and minor when I wrote the jazz improvisation exercise book, "Arpeggios, Rhythms, and Scales" because ease and 're-useability' are important when improvising. You don't have time to think,'Oh, these 2 bars are G minor, shift here'. All 24 scales have fingerings, and in most cases 2 choices. As a bonus for you, all the 7th arpeggios are written with multiple fingering choices. There are many other exercises for improvisers, but those 2 areas would help you. Its at:http://www.lulu.com/shop/mike-laird/arpeggios-rhythms-and-scales/paperback/product-11176289.html

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